The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1887-04-29
AN AFFECTING APPEAL
BY A CONVICT IN THE SUPERIOR
COURT At BOSTON.
A TELLING INDICTMENT OF SOCIETY
by A CRIMINAL.

Efforts at an Honest Life Rendered Of
No Avail by Relentless suspicion-The
Government Itself Teaching Dishonesty
in Prison-"Jack sheppari's" Story.
BosToN, April GA scene that had a
suggestion of the dramatic formed a con-
trast to the usual routine at the superior
criminal court, when District Attorney Ste
vens moved for sentence on John H. Mat
thews, alias Jack Sheppard a convict whose
name and features are known in police cir
cles throughout the country, associated as
they have been with ingenious burglaries
and thefts, repeated service in penal insti-
tutions and other incidents that have kept
him under the eye of the law during the
greater part of his forty three years of life.
The charge against him in the present in
stance was of taking part in the burglary
committed at the clothing store of H. s.
Levy.
When Judge Dewey, prior to imposing
sentence, allowed the prisoner an opportu-
nifty for himself, ''speech from the dock,
such as is rarely heard nowadays came like
a surprise to the court. A small man, with
light compact frame, shapely, white
crowned head that would attract attention
anywhere, small features, indicating at once
refinement and peculiar force, arose within
the iron inclosure and riveted the attention
of every eye. His neat and tasteful dress,
his air Of quiet dignity and his well-modu
lated and penetrating voice made it hard for
many to realize that this was noted con-
vict and not distinguished literary man or
artist.
II have had no home since / was nine
years DID," he said, land in consequence of
being imprisoned for something did when
little boy, have been thrown into the
ways of bad company and have been obliged
to serve terms in Pennsylvania, in New
York, in Illinois and in this state; and when
ever at liberty have been pursued by de-
tectives from one city to another" He
went on to tell how he had come to Boston.
intending to live an honest life. His aged
mother had recently died and left hirl some
little means, by which he could support him
self, and that was how he lived here, and not
by stealing as the police had suspected. t
A man who has once been convict has
q home nowhere In the land, y he declared,
with pathos arising out Of his own ex-
perience. His narrative referred to his be-
ing obliged to go to police headquarters in
Boston to be subjected to the ellgar gaze Of
a crowd of people at time when he had
done nothing, his subsequent pawning of his
clothes to pay his fare to New York, and his
capture and return by detectives there.
Various circumstances were cited as self
evident proof of his innocence of the crime
with which he is charged. Referring to the
to which he was consigned when
last in state prison, he said that he was
obliged to pour water on leather skivings so
as to increase their weight when bought by
those who intended to use them for shoddy
soles and heels.
~ mentioned the matter to Chaplain
Barnes and also to the Catholic priest at the
prison, and asked them il that was the sort
Of work to give prisoner thoughts of hon
esty. was told at another time, " he said,
that If was asked to make counterfeits
in prison should have to do IT," The pris-
oner gave pathetic account Of having been
sent out of prison at the end of his team in
midwinter and having to walk eighteen
miles in a snowstorm with only thin suit
Of clothing and no money or food.
'Look at these crippled arms, >" he said,
holding them up, ''and.yo can understand
why l could not work with the pick and
shovel, although I was willing. As for in
door work, if applied for work they would
ask me Tor recommendation; and where in
the wide world was convict to get q
AS in closing he referred to his life of al
most continuous suffering and shame, the
of boyish misfortune, but for
which he would have been as respectable as
any one in this court, his pathetic voice and
were SO full of appeal to
that the most accustomed officers
Of the court were touched.
1.-TWO years in the house of correction"
was the sentence that came in subdued tones
from the judge; and, as the sad victim of
and misdirected talent turned to
find himself again in a life shut out from
society and sympathy, many were i'm
pressed with the observation Of his counsel:
surely this mans career is a proof that
there is something wrong in our penal
system"